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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Masque of Culture 



BY 

ANNIE ELIOT 



£ 



Second Edition \//y 



^MAY 8 W84 ) 



*>?7~^ 



HARTFORD, CONN. 

Press of The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company 

1894 



Permission to play the "Masque of Culture" must be 
obtained from the author, care The Case, Lockwood & Brainard 
Co., Hartford, Conn. 






Copyright 1893 

BY 

Annie Eliot Trumbull 



a-*ffs~f 



TO 

Cbe Saturday /looming Glub 

OF HARTFORD 



PERSONS REPRESENTED. 



CONFUCIUS, 
SOCRATES, . 
MINERVA, . 
ZENOBIA, . 
HYP ATI A. . 
CASSANDRA, 
LADY JANE GREY. 
PORTIA, 



A Chinese philosopher. 
A Greek philosopher. 
A Goddess. 
A Palmy ran Queen. 
An Athenian Lady. 
A Trojan Prophetess. 
An English Peeress. 
A Venetian Belle. 



MAXIMILIA R. STANTMORE, A Defender of Woman. 
CHARLOTTE, . . A Boston Light. 

GERTRUDE, . . A New York Success. 

MESSENGER. 



Minerva, 



Prologue. 
NEAR OLYMPUS. 
Socrates, 



Confucius. 



Zenobia, 
Hypatia, 
Lady Jane Grey, 



The Convent zo7t. 
BOSTON. 

Portia, 

Cassandra, 

Charlotte, 



Maximilia R. Stantmore, 



Gertrude, 
Confucius, 
Socrates, 
Messenger. 



Minerva, 



Epilogue . 
NEAR OLYMPUS. 
Socrates, 



Confucius. 



PROLOGUE. 



( Confucius and Socrates discovered seated in an arbor. 
Confucius calm and attentive. Socrates, abstracted. 
A silence which is broken by) 

Confucius (R.) {with solemnity). If one waiteth, let 
him have Patience, for things may happen. 

Socrates (L.) {starting from his abstraction). Hum ! 
There is Truth in that. There is Truth in many things 
that lie within a Man's consciousness and his experience. 
Nevertheless a woman ought to be on time. 

Con. A Woman hath many pursuits that are not evi- 
dent to Observation. Many times she forgetteth them 
all and is late. 

Soc. (sadly). Xantippe was always on time. I might 
almost say she was generally a leetle ahead of it. 

Con. A wise woman summoneth Men to Council that 
she may take her Own Way without Reflection. 

Soc. Have you ever met this — this lady ? 

Con. I have never gazed upon her in life, but I have 
seen her photograph at a shop among other celebrities. 

Soc. I have only seen her images myself. I hope 
(wearily) — I hope she is different from Xantippe — in 
manner. 



8 A Masque of Culture. 

Con. A Tongue is like to the Electric Current. It is 
easier to turn it on than to stop it afterwards. 

Soc. (senteniiously). Truth is the product of no one 
civilization. It has found its way into Asia. {The sound 
of a gun is heard without.) Hist ! What is that ! I 
think she has come. 

Con. Gunpowder hath a great Sound, but a Gate 
openeth also Inwards. 

Soc. It is she. 

(Enter Minerva C. She carries a rifle and a spear.) 

Minerva. Good morning, gentlemen. (They bow.) 
Sorry to keep yon waiting — but the train from Olympus 
was delayed at the drawbridge. (She puts her rifle 
down in the corner, but retains the spear, with which 
she poses.) Not loaded, gentlemen, I assure you. I 
always fire it off before I go into company. I keep the 
spear for show, but I carry the other for use. 

(Confucius offers her a chair. Socrates gazes at her 
abstractedly. She seats herself C.) 

Min. (easily). Though this is the first time we have 
met, introductions are unnecessary. Let us proceed im- 
mediately to business. 

Soc. Truth lieth not in multiplicity of affairs, but in 
the inner soul of a man. 

Con. A Busy Bee is a thing that is to look upon and 
respect, but not to grasp unadvisedly. 

Min. (somewhat perplexed). Oh! Yes. Yes, as you 
say, gentlemen. (A pause. Minerva looks at the?n a 
little apprehensively, but Confucius remains calm and 



A Masque of Culture. 9 

Socrates abstracted.) I have asked you {pauses) — I 
have asked you to be present on this occasion on account 
of information received of the present state of female 
learning and development upon the earth. 

Soc. Do you mean things are worse than they were 
in our — in my time ? 

Min. I mean that there seems to have been great 
progress in this direction. That the learning and power 
which in earlier periods — such as ours — not that we 
belong precisely to the same period, you know. I think 
I have a little the advantage in the matter of age — eh, 
Socrates ? 

Con. {politely). You don't in the least look it. 

Min. [gratified). I'm afraid you are a dreadful flat- 
terer ! (sits.) But I believe I am rather well preserved, 
and I may as well say here and now that de Stael cream 
is most useful in removing sunburn, tan, and freckles. I 
freckle a good deal, being obliged to wear a helmet with- 
out any brim, as you perceive. Sometimes I think I will 
have a brim, no matter now it looks ! Let me see, where 
was I ? 

Soc. We none of us can state precisely where we 
were, before the dawn of intelligence, but you were there 
— somewhere. 

Min. (rising). I don't know whether or not you mean 
to be rude, Socrates, but I advise you to be careful ! (She 
raises her spear.) 

Soc. (hastily). I was brought up to respect you, 
madam, I assure you. 



io A Masque of Culture* 

Cox. Though Sense be like a Needle among Dried 
Grass, let us not desist from searching after it. 

Mix. So I say. I will go on. I find that Woman has 
assumed strange, new responsibilities, and made unac- 
customed claims. That she hesitates not to raise her 
voice in public, and even to make her way into the sacred 
temples of learning. That she takes it upon herself to 
make decisions concerning things of public moment. 
There be strange talk of polls and stage plays, dress 
reform, the rostrum and the higher education. They 
speak no longer of the cradle and the distaff. 

Soc. (thoughtfully). I have always thought they were 
capable of holding their own. Xantippe was, and didn't 
half try, either. 

■ Cox. Learning is a Trumpet that many blow and that 
giveth forth Divers Sounds. 

Min. Naturally I am quite interested in this work 
because I have always advocated the equality of the 
sexes ; but it has made father mad. Now there is going 
to be a Parliament of Women next week. Of course it 
will be held in Boston. There are to be delegates from 
several countries and several centuries, and they will dis- 
cuss the Progress of Woman. 

Soc. Man findeth Truth when he goeth about with his 
own soul. Woman looketh for it in much confusion and 
findeth it not. 

Cox. A Woman and a Snail abide in their own Homes. 
Albeit there be some that must be moving, though they 
bear their Homes with them. 

Min. Yes indeed. Well, I must know just what has 



A Masque of Culture. n 

been done and just what the convention proposes to do. 
I don't think a person, in my position ought to permit 
herself to get behind. I haven't time to go myself, and 
then, to speak frankly, going down to the earth isn't 
what it used to be. You see, they ask an awful lot of 
questions now when anybody goes down from Olympus, 
and it isn't always convenient to answer them. They 
want to know how you came and how long you are going 
to stay, and what you'll do when you go back, and oh I 
all sorts of things they didn't use to want to know. 
Pluto heard one of them say there was no such place as 
Hades ! and he's been making the whole place over this 
summer, too. And a Chicago girl said to father that she 
wasn't afraid of old Cosmic Dust ! Oh, it isn't what it 
used to be at all ! It used to be enough for people to 
know we were there, no matter how we looked, but it 
isn't now — the world isn't half so respectful. So I 
thought I wouldn't go myself, but you two gentlemen 
have always been very much respected, and in looking 
about, you seemed to me the very best reporters to send. 
People know who you are, and all. 

Soc. Is there a man that is known? Is there a soul 
that has communicated its essence ? Is there a reputation 
that is a noumenon and not a mere phenomenon ? 

Min. {alarmed). Bless me ! I hadn't thought of that ! 

Con. What is said is but little, though often it seemeth 
to be much. A Rabbit is the friend of Man, yet he 
roameth in a Burrow. 

Min. {quite depressed). Well, of course, if you don't 
either of you like the idea — 



12 *' A Masque of Culture. 

Soc. The Idea ! The idea is not a matter that is for 
liking, nor yet for repulsion. It is inherent, positive, and 
not tangible. (He goes off into reverie.) 

Cox. A man that hath an Idea hath erected unto him- 
self a monument of Alabaster. 

Min. {more depressed). Oh, well, if you gentlemen 
have any better suggestion to make ! There's Mercury, 
of course, he's always ready for errands, but I think it 
takes somebody who isn't so light-headed. Why, posi- 
tively, Mercury would rather make lift information than 
not tell a good story ! Besides, he is open to the objection 
I've stated, and — well, can you think of anything that 
has to do with the subject? — not just general conversa- 
tion, you know. 

Soc. Did you want us to form a school among these 
ignorant women, to instruct — 

Min. (hastily). Oh no, don't do that. They don't like 
instruction ! The convention will represent all shades of 
female opinion and culture — 

Con. Opinion is rarely Culture, and Culture seeketh 
not to hide herself in Opinion. A Basket is large but it is 
sometimes overturned. 

Mix. Yes, yes, to be sure. — There will be women, as I 
say, from every land and every century. The only 
standard adopted is that of intellect. I had a complimen- 
tary ticket, of course, but it is not transferable ; still, I 
will give you a note, and I am sure they will admit you 
and treat you with respect as representatives of Culture. 
I can depend upon you for an unprejudiced account — 
which I might not get from women. I want you just to 
go and listen. 



A Masque of Culture. 13 

Soc. {rising). Listen ! And to women ! Has Truth 
taken unto herself the wings of thought and flown away 
from earth — that one should listen, then, to a woman? 
(Minerva lifts her spear.) 

Con. {hastening to placate Minerva). If a bell be of 
Silver nevertheless its tongue giveth forth Sound. And 
we say it is no Small Thing. 

Soc. (perceiving his error). (Sits). To be sure, I 
used to listen to Xantippe. (aside) But then somebody 
had to. (eagerly) Shall we not be expected to address 
the meeting ? 

Mix. Why yes, — that is, of course, if you get the 
chance. 

Con. Where there be Little to be said, and many to say 
it, there is little of the Silence that befitteth Wisdom. 

Soc. (hesitatingly). I'd go in a minute, but I don't 
care about facing a parcel of women. 

Min. Well, you'll have Confucius with you — if he'll 
go ; you will, won't you, Confucius? 

Con. A Man shall not shrink from a Task. A Button 
that is gone is worse than the Sewing of it on. 

Soc. (rises, convinced). Well, then we'll go. Truth 
may be found in the desert places of the female intellect. 

Min. Socrates ! 

Soc. Where it hath been planted by the hand of the 
goddess Minerva. 

Min. (mollified). I'm real glad you'll go, both of you. 
And you'd better each take a grip, because you may have 
to stay over night. And be sure and tell me everything 
they say, and everything they have on. I can't stay any 



14 A Masque of Culture. 

longer now, I'm due in Chicago — I'm very popular just 
now in Chicago — but I'll send you passes, and will meet 
you here on your return. Much obliged to you for coming 
this morning. Gentlemen — farewell. 

[Exit Minerva C.) {Socrates paces tip and down 
thoughtfully.) 

Soc. Mehercule ! She hath given us the task of a 
grown man and not of a puling babe — to report the 
words of the mouths of women — you couldn't have re- 
ported Xantippe in short hand, — and to describe the color 
and the hang of divers cestuses and tunics ! Were it not 
better to stay at home and evolve the knowledge that lies 
within our own souls ? 

Con. There are Things that are without the conscious- 
ness of a Man. These are but to be learned in the Tur- 
moil of Existence. A Fan that is but a painted paper 
thing hath on it Images that are beyond the cognizance 
of a Philosopher. 

Soc. Thou speakest well. We will go. 

{Re-enter Minerva C.) 

Min. I forgot to say one thing. You know we spoke 
of the probability of your being called upon for a few 
remarks. Now if you are — you just try and say some- 
thing — well, something relevant — something that refers 
to the subject. Of course you both of you speak beauti- 
fully, and it is a pleasure to hear you, I'm sure, but I 
think at a time like that you'd better just try to make 
sense — not wisdom, you know, but sense. I just thought 
I'd mention it. No offense, I hope. ( lur?is to the door.) 
{Curiam.) 



THE CONVENTION. 



(A hall with slightly raised platform R. and chairs 
filled by the delegates L. The Boston delegation, 
headed by Charlotte, wear blue glasses. The New 
York delegation, headed by Gertrude, are in evening 
dress. There are several followers of Maximilia R. 
Stantmore in masculine vests and divided skirts. 
Maximilia stands on the platform a little at 07ie 
side, the chair being unoccupied. Scattered about, 
so as to forin an effective tableau are Zejiobia, 
Hypatia, Cassandra, Lady Ja7ie Grey, and Portia. 

The curtai?i rises to the sound of confused, unintelli- 
gible and unintermittent talking. Maximilia is vainly 
endeavoring to make herself heard. A female tele- 
graph messenger is standing at her side having just 
delivered a note.) 

Maximilia. (R. C.) Women! Women! This matter must 
be decided. Women! {They do not heed her. At last she 
steps to the bell which is on the desk and rings it vio- 
lently. There is a pause.) Fellow women ! This note 
has just been brought to me. It is addressed to the con- 
vention at large. I have read it and it demands an im- 
mediate reply — before the meeting is called to order. 



16 A Masque of Culture. 

Portia. {R.) We can't answer it as a body, before the 
meeting has been called to order. See Book 4, Section C. 

Max. I am glad to tell the lady from Venice, Century 
unknown, that I am quite well acquainted with parliamen- 
tary usage, but this calls for decisive, if not official, action, 
and it must be settled by personal opinion, as we have not 
yet appointed a presiding officer. 

Gertrude (R.C.) {impatiently). Well, well, tell us what 
it is! 

Max. It is a note from Minerva — for whom we all 
have a great respect. {She pauses and looks at her 
audience. Murmurs of Oh yes, certainly. Of course. 
Estimable goddess. Quite a superior sort of person.) 

Max. I consider her one of the leaders of her day. 

Charlotte. (L.) But not really progressive — not as we 
understand Progress. 

Lady Jane Grey. (Z.) Perhaps we owe a certain 
amount of respect to the Past. 

Gert. {superciliously). What a funny idea ! 

Max. She writes to urge, that, as she cannot attend, 
we admit two of her friends to the convention. — Let them 
attend the opening and remain as long as they choose. 
It is rather unusual — 

Gert. Are they men? 

Max. {referri?ig to the note). Yes. 

Gert. Then I say let them in. 

Hypatia. {R.) They might pick up something that 
would be of use to them. Perhaps we ought to let them in. 

Char. Can't you find out who they are? 

Max. Yes, I know. They are Socrates and Confucius. 



A Masque of Culture. 17 

Char, {with some pleasure). Confucius ! Why, I'd 
really quite like to meet him. 

Gert. Don't recall the name, but dare say I've met 
him somewhere. Does he ever go to Tuxedo or — 

Cassandra {wildly, rushing C). Do not admit them! 
Keep them without the sacred precincts ! The shades of 
my ancestors warn me ! They bring torches of disaster ! 
Socrates is a Greek! Away with him! (The whole C07i- 
vention, in different tones of scorn), O pshaw! 

Cass, {depressed). I knew you'd say that. 

Hypatia. This really hardly seems to be the place for 
men. 

Max. {seriously). It may be that it is not. But is 
there — in the wide domain of action, is there really any 
place for Man ? Is he not always a Parasite ? 

Hypatia {thoughtfully). True. 

Char. I suppose they might as well be here as any- 
where. 

All. Oh yes, yes, I suppose so. 

Max. Then I take it upon myself to say, admit them! 
(To messenger.) Go and tell these gentlemen that we 
shall be glad to see them, and that the convention opens 
immediately. {Exit messenger, C.) {hurriedly.) Now 
who will welcome them when they come ? They will ex- 
pect some sort of recognition for they are really very nice 
people. 

Lady J. G. Why, you, I should think. 

The others. Why, yes. Why not? Of course. 

Max. (coming downfro?n the platform, C). O, no, I 



1 8 The Masque of Culture. 

couldn't. I have my position to think of, you know. It 
wouldn't do for me to welcome men to — oh, to anything! 
What would my constituents say? {Goes R.) 

Portia. Well, then, you, Zenobia. You are by way of 
doing that sort of thing, you know. 

Zen. (L. C.) Oh, well, I'm quite willing. As Longi- 
nus used to say, it's all in the day's work. 

Portia {to Max). Zenobia is just the sort of woman 
that appears well on a committee. 

{Enter Confucius and Socrates L. Max. falls back 
R. Zen. goes forward to meet the??i.) 

Zen. (C) {graciously). Mr. Socrates, I believe — Mr. 
Confucius. 

{An occasional whisper among the delegates, but no 
loud talking.) 

We are all glad to see you here. Our convention has 
not yet been called to order, but seats will be provided 
for you upon the platform. I hope you bring good news 
from Minerva. 

Con. A Bringer of News findeth himself at the Gate 
of the city, and the Hearer saith " It is naught." 

Soc. Look not for Truth in that which goeth from lip 
to lip ; rather in the silence of a lover of the gods. 

Zen. {after a pause). O, yes. Certainly, {another 
pause). I am Zenobia — of Palmyra. 

Con. {politely). That which saith " Behold I am air" 
and is not — it is a Palm Leaf Fan. {Zen. bows a?id 
smiles.) 

Zen. {aside to Max.) He is certainly most civil, but I 



The Masque of Culture. 19 

don't quite catch his idea. (Bows and smiles again. 
Confucius bows. Socrates looks somewhat bored. The 
pause threate?is to become awkward.) 

Zen. (with sudden i?ispiratio7i.) Won't you go in the 
other room and have a cup of tea? — Oh, dear, there isn't 
any — (pauses, and looks desperately around.) 

Char, (coming C.) I would like to meet the gentlemen. 

Zen. Oh, certainly. (To Socrates.) Miss Charlotte — 
of Boston. 

Char. I would like to have a few moments' conversa- 
tion with you. It occurs to me that Plato may not have 
done you entire justice. Naturally I have always under- 
stood you to be a Unitarian. ( They converse apart at 
the front, L.). 

Zen. (to Confucius ; she has brought up Lady J. G.). 
Here is Lady Jane Grey. (Aside) Belongs to one of our 
best families. (Aloud) And Miss Maximilia Stantmore 
— the philosopher Confucius. 

Con. (gazing at Max.). A Woman clothed after the 
similitude of a Man hath been known to be a Goddess. 
(Goes R.) 

Max (much pleased). Well, I'm sure! (They con- 
verse apart, front, R. Gertrude comes forward to 
Zen. C.) 

Gert. You always do say just the right thing. 

Zen. (smiling). Well, I try to. 

Gert. But I can't tell whether that Confucius does or 
not — he makes me sort of nervous. 

Portia (R.). I say that it is time some one took the 
Chair and called the convention to order. 



20 The Masque of Culture. 

Cass, (rushing C.\ wildly). Call it not order! Call it 
disorder! It will be not convention but contention! I see 
before me loom the dangers of misrule. Beware! Be- 
ware ! Oh most unhappy me ! 

All. O, pshaw! 

Cass, {depressed). I knew you'd say that. 

Max. I nominate Hypatia for the chair. 

Several voices. Yes, Hypatia. Hypatia! 

Hypatia. I really must decline. I'd rather stay in the 
background. I was obliged to be rather conspicuous at 
one time and I found it unpleasant. Since then my pref- 
erence has been for a retired life. 

Max. Then, Lady Jane Grey — you. 

Lady J. G. {hurriedly). Oh, no, I couldn't, really! I've 
never cared to take very prominent seats since — since, 
well — since — 

Hyp. and Zen. {sympathetically). O yes, we know. 

Gert. {aside to Max.). Never heard of her before. 
Probably she doesn't really belong to the four hundred. 

Zen. {to Max.) Miss Stantmore, you must take it 
yourself. 

Several voices. Yes, Stantmore, Stantmore! 

Max. Oh, no — you! 

Soc. Are there not chairs enough that each may have 
one ? Or is not the standing good ? 

Con. Why should women dispute of a Chair ? Have 
not the wise been found upon a Three-Legged Stool ? 
{All look at Soc. and Con. in surprise.) 

Gert. {aside). I have no use for Confucius. 

Char, {to Max.) You'd better take it — you will keep 



A Masque of Culture. 21 

good order. {Aside) And it will keep it away from Por- 
tia. If she gets it shell talk all night ! 

Max. Well, if it is the wish of the Assembly of course — 

All. It is ! It is ! 

Max. I will accept the honor. {She goes R. to the 
platform and arranges seats for the guests at the 
side towards front. The others seat themselves L. 
Con. and Soc. come C. during the delay.) 

Soc. {troubled). Truly we see strange things. Things 
unspoken of by the Egyptians, nor yet the Phoenicians. 
And it is not for me to remember the color of their 
peplums. 

Con. There be in manly Attire, and they are not Men ; 
and there be that use Words and know not their Mean- 
ing ; and there be none that keep Silence. {Conversa- 
tion breaks out.) 

Max. The Convention is called to order. {Attentive 
silence^ Before we proceed to the business of the hour, 
I wish to say that it has seemed best to those having the 
arrangements for this meeting in hand, to appoint a com- 
mittee to collect information concerning anything of 
special interest to us in our public capacity that has 
transpired within a comparatively recent period, and to 
report to us by district messenger. It is empowered to 
exercise a wide choice, and many of the facts will perhaps 
not be news to us of the 19th Century, but there are 
others whose interest dates from — well, from an earlier 
date — and the committee is making an effort to glean 
information of interest to them. Its messengers have 
permission to interrupt our deliberations. 



22 A Masque of Culture. 

Fellow-women, we have come together, as you all know, 
to learn of the Advance of Woman, her Advance in all . 
branches of the Tree of Knowledge that lie within her 
hands. The March of Progress is in her ears. The 
Trumpet of Fame is at her lips. The Thread of Fate 
has become her football. Of this we would learn to-day. 
Of the past darkness when Woman was considered a 
Domestic Animal, of the faint glimmering when she was 
held an Ornament, of the dawn when she was judged a 
Power, of the broad Sunlight of to-day when she is ac- 
knowledged a Lawgiver. (Applause^ To-day Woman 
is preeminent, to-day the foot that rocks the world has 
fortunately time to rock the cradle — but let us not forget 
those beacon lights of gloomier times, whose rays were 
all that saved the world from destruction. Let me, in 
this connection, call upon Zenobia of Palmyra, third cen- 
tury. {Applause.) 

Zen. (L. front). I really don't know that I have very 
much to say that you would care to hear. 

Soc. Truth is now and then found in the mouth of a 
woman, though it be not in her heart. 

Max. You will be given an opportunity to speak later, 
Socrates. Zenobia now has the floor. 

Soc. Truth needs not the floor of a house for her 
tread. She is found in the streets and in gardens. 

Con. A wooden Drum resoundeth in a Measure ; but 
when we hear a shriek in the night, we say " It is an Owl." 

Max. (firmly). Zenobia has the — 

Portia. Miss Chairman, let me ask the gentlemen a 



A Masque of Culture. 23 

few questions. {Aside.) I knew they'd make trouble. 
{Aloud.) If Truth be in the streets and gardens, she is 
in two places at once. Nothing can be in two places at 
once. Therefore Truth is nothing. {Soc. is amazed. 
She turns to Con.) A wooden drum won't go in a meas- 
ure because we don't have measures for more than a few 
pecks. After that they become baskets and barrels. 
Therefore a wooden drum does not resound in a measure. 
Secondly, it hasn't anything to do with an owl anyhow. 
Section 5, Book J. {She reseats herself. Con. and Soc. 
open their mouths to reply, but think better of it.) 

Max. Zenobia of Palmyra ! ' 

Zen. (C. ) I was only going to say that I had to study 
a good deal with Longinus. I never liked Arithmetic. 

Char, {aside). (Z.) Fancy studying Arithmetic ! What 
a waste of time ! 

Zen. But I did like French — though I only read, don't 
speak it at all. After all, I cared for athletics more than 
anything else. 

Char. Delsarte system ? 

Zen. What did you say ? 

Char. Delsarte system. Exercises every muscle of 
the body, you know. Teaches grace and ease — 

Gert. {with intention). Do they have it in Boston ? 

Max. Order ! Order ! Zenobia has the floor. 

Zen. I will read you a letter written at that time 
which will give you a better idea than anything else how 
we spent our time. {Takes up book, "Letters from 
Palmyra") They were printed afterwards. 



24 A Masque of Culture. 

Cass, {wildly). Don't let her read it ! It will be long ! 
Ye will all want to read letters ! — Or recite something ! 
Ye will all have reminiscence^ and talk about the Fair ! 
{All make as if to speak.) The sacred fire burns low in 
the vessel and still ye talk ! 

All. O pshaw ! 

Cass, {depressed). I knew you'd say that. 

Zen. {reads). "The following day was appointed for 
the chase, and early in the morning I was waked by the 
braying of trumpets and the baying of dogs. I found the 
queen already mounted, and equipped for the sport " — 

Gert. Oh, of course. Just a hunt. We have them at 
Newport. Did you have a real fox or only — 

Max. Zenobia of Palmyra \ 

Zen. {reads). " Surrounded by Zabdas, Longinus, 
and a few of the nobles of Palmyra. We were soon 
joined by Julia and Fausta." 

Gert. Julia who ? 

Zen. {reads). " In order to insure our sport, a tiger, 
made fierce by being for some days deprived of food, had 
the preceding evening been let loose from the royal col- 
lection into the neighboring forests " — 

Lady J. G. Dear me, wasn't that awful? Weren't 
you scared ? At 'ome they used to 'unt the boar, but — 

Gert. Once when we were at the Madison Square 
Garden — 

Max. {wearily). Zenobia of Palmyra. 

Zen. {reads). "These forests, abounding in game, 
commence immediately, as it were, in the rear of the 
palace. They present a boundless continuity of crag, 



A Masque of Culture. 25 

mountain, and wooded plain {the Assembly begins to be 
a little bored), offering every variety of ground to those 
who seek the pleasures of the chase." {Zen. hears them 
sigh and says apprehensively) I will pass on. {Reads.) 
11 It was a moment of inexpressible horror. At the same 
instant our eyes caught the form of the famished tiger y 
just in the act to spring from the crag upon the uncon- 
scious queen — " 

Soc. {interested). Why now you're shouting ! 

Con. It is not Meet that men feed tigers, but — 

Char, {disgusted). This isn't a time for poor jokes. 

Con. {perplexed, but concludes) — but it is a wise 
Candle that bloweth out Another. 

Max. I really must ask you not to interrupt, gentle- 
men ; it is very confusing. 

Cass, {spitefully). I told you so, anyhow ! 

Zen. {reads). " But before we had time to alarm Ze- 
nobia — which would indeed have been useless — a shaft 
from an unerring arm arrested the monster in mid-air, 
whose body then tumbled heavily at the feet of Zenobia's 
Arab. The horse, rearing with affright, had nearly 
dashed the queen against the opposite rocks, but keeping 
her seat, she soon, by her powerful arm " — {smiling \ 
with a little embarrassment) I just put this in, ladies, 
because it happens to be here, you know — 

All. Yes, yes, yes. 

Zen. "And complete horsemanship, reduced him to 
his obedience. A thrust from my hunting spear quickly 
dispatched the dying beast." That is the way we women 
amused ourselves in my day. {Applause.) 



26 A Masque of Culture. 

Char, {aside to Lady J. G.) She has been reading 
Mr. Isaacs. {Enter Messenger.) 

Max. Messenger. 

Mess. Stanley has discovered the sources of the Nile. 

Gert. Well, I guess that news came by way of Phila- 
delphia ! 

Hyp. The sources of the Nile ! How interesting ! 

Soc. Of a truth the Egyptians knew it not in my day ! 

Max. {to Mess, severely). Let me see your ticket ! 
{Takes it.) 

Lady J. G. {to Gert.). We had discoverers in England, 
too. Where are they ? 

Gert. Where are what? 

Lady J. G. The sources of the Nile ? 

Gert. {vaguely). Oh they are — well — why just 
where they always were, I suppose. To tell you the truth, 
Stanley told us so long ago that I have about forgotten. 
And then he has married an English girl since, and that 
is so much more important. We don't have to remember 
things in New York, you know — they're all there — on 
the surface. 

Mess. And he has witnessed unheard-of atrocities in 
Africa — the worst of them within his own troop. 

Zen. {indifferently). The fortunes of war, I suppose. 
Tortures, and so on. 

Max. {severely to Mess.). What time did you start 
from the office ? 

Mess, {guiltily). Only a little while ago. Its on that 
{points to ticket). At eight o'clock p. m. The twenty- 
first. 



A Masque of Culture. 27 

Max. Yes, but I see you've changed the date to one 
month later. You've waited for the twenty-first, 8 p. m., 
to come around again. Don't do that. We want the 
news more promptly. You can go. (Exit Mess.) 

Portia (thoughtfully). He said in Africa. That's 
where the Anthropophagi do grow with heads beneath 
their shoulders. I used to hear Desdemona — (springing 
up) — Miss Chairman ! 

Max. (reprovingly). Portia of Venice, century un- 
known. 

Por. (comes C). I did rajther a clever thing once my- 
self. You see there was a Jew — it was an iniquitous 
proceeding — and there was a great deal of hard feeling 
and I — wait a minute — I think I have the notes of my 
speech in my pocket. It was very well reported. 
(Searches for her pocket). 

Char, (resignedly, aside to Lady J. G.). Now I sup- 
pose we'll have to have the whole thing — ' ' The quality 
of mercy," you know. 

Lady J. G. (sadly). No, I don't know. They didn't 
have any where I was. 

Char. Oh, no, poor thing — no wonder you feel so. 
But I meant Shakespeare, you know. 

Lady J. G. Shakespeare ? 

Char, (amazed). Do you mean to say Roger Ascham 
didn't teach you Shakespeare! 

(Lady Jane G. shakes her head. Portia still looks 
J or her pocket.) 

Con. When that which was not is lost, a Woman saith, 
It is a Pocket. 



28 A Masque of Culture. 

Max. {who has been growing restless). It seems to- 
me that we are not advancing very fast, but are rather 
going backwards. While Portia of Venice, century un- 
known, is looking for her notes, I will ask Charlotte of 
Boston, 19th century, to state what, in her opinion, occu- 
pies woman most, to-day. 

Char, {settling her glasses firmly on her nose). I 
have no doubt that it is Esoteric Buddhism. (Comes C.) 

Con. {with mild excitement). What! 

Char, {calmly). Oh, yes. Manifestations have been 
such as to lead me to think that Theosophy is in the as- 
cendant. The astral body — 

Con. {astonished). Hath a Woman named the Myste- 
ries ? Doth she speak of the Permeating Forces ? Shall 
the parrot say, Behold, I am a Pundit ? 

Char. {patronizi?igly). I suppose we have gone a 
good deal farther than they did in your day. I've had 
pretty good luck with manifestations myself. Only the 
other day a kitten — 

Soc. Said the Egyptians : Truth is not far from a 
Cat. The ignorant sometimes set foot upon the rock of 
Learning. 

Cass. (C, wildly). Talk not of cats ! The Manes of 
my ancestors wave their hands at me from Acheron ! Be- 
ware! For mice have had wings, and fur may yet fly. 

All. Oh, pshaw! 

Cass, {depressed). I knew you'd say that. 

Max. {despairingly). If any of you can say anything 
to which all the rest of you will listen, I wish she would ! 



A Masque of Culture. 29 

Por. {coming C.\ her notes in her hand). I can give 
you my little speech now, if you like. You see, it was 
just as Shylock thought he was going to have it all his 
own way. Antonio — Antonio was a nice man, very kind 
and obliging — 

Max. I think the ladies know the circumstances. 
Hyp. {gently). I don't think I do. 
Char, {aside). Oh, Hypatia is so good-natured! 
Por. And he really was unfortunate — everything went 
wrong. In short, I pulled him out of quite a hole with 
my little speech. It begins, " The quality of mercy is 
not strained — " Perhaps some of you have heard it. 
Several voices. We have! We have! 
Cass, {spitefully). I told you so! 
Por. {undisturbed, with elocutionary expression). 
' ' The quality of mercy is not strained ; 
It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven, 
Upon the place beneath ; it is twice bless'd ; 
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes; 
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest ; it becomes 
The throned monarch better than his crown ; 
His sceptre shows — " 
Gert. {excitedly, comes C). Why, Ellen Terry says 
that ! I don't think you ought to have taken the words 
out of anybody else's mouth. It isn't yours at all. 

Soc. {with an air of reproof). Know thyself ! For a 
woman as for a man is the adage. Know thyself. 

Por. {injured, goes L.). Well, I'm sure! {Conversa- 
tion breaks out.) 
Max. {rapping). Order ! Order ! Portia knows her 



30 A Masque of Culture. 

lines very well indeed. And I'm very glad that she had. 
the presence of mind to say them in court. It speaks 
well for Woman at that time that she should have found 
such a representative. It is not necessary to say that she 
won her cause, for it is always the right one ! {Applause.) 

Gert. She had to make them think she was a man in 
order to do it, though. 

Voices. 'Sh — 'sh. 

Max. That was only because judges and juries at that 
time were unlike those of to-day. 

Gert. Oh, to be sure. 

Max. It seems to me that it might be well to divide 
the subject of Progress. There seems to be some little 
confusion — perhaps it is too large a subject to handle all 
at once. Instead of relating individual experiences, let us 
dwell upon the different vocations in which Woman ap- 
pears. In this connection I will ask Portia to speak upon 
the Drama. 

Char, {rising). I had a good deal to say upon the 
Drama myself — 

Gert. The last time it was kittens! 

Char, {unheeding) — after I had finished with Esoteric 
Buddhism. 

Max. Hypatia, will you take Theology? 

Hyp. {hastily). No, I thank you. I don't like to say 
anything about Theology. 

Max. Well, who will take Theology? 

Char, (rising promptly). I will. At Andover — 

Max. You have Buddhism already. That ought to be 
enough. 



A Masque of Culture. 31 

Char. (L. C, proudly). It isn't enough for a Boston 
mind. No one thing is. 

Soc. Let men study their own minds though they be 
choked with accumulations of ignorance. It may be 
they may yet find a grain of knowledge. 

Con. When a thing steameth and shineth and maketh 
a Humming Noise, it is most usually a Teakettle. 

Max. Lady Jane Grey, suppose you — 

Lady J. G. Oh, no, please! I'd rather not have the- 
ology. They used to have trials of heresy in my day. 

Cass, (wildly, C). They will have them now! Speak 
not of theology! Speak not of Hades and Styx! The 
sacred tripod has revealed the oracle ! Speak not of the- 
ology or of Pluto! They will bring contentions. Opinion 
is dangerous! Men shall be tried for heresy to-day. 

All. Oh, pshaw! 

Cass, (depressed). I knew you'd say that. 

Max. Well, how about music ? Who will take music ? 

Char, (promptly, rising). I will. Our symphony 
concerts — 

Max. Gertrude of New York. I will ask you to speak 
' of Music. There remains Literature — I myself will- 
speak of Politics. As for Literature — 

Char, (promptly, rising). I will take Literature, of 
course. (Looking calmly about.) We discovered Liter- 
ature — in Boston. 

Hyp. Oh, dear! 

Lady J. G. Fancy! Why, Mr. Ascham used to say — 

Zen. You draw a long bow! 

Soc. A man, being struck, seeth stars. Whereafter, 



32 A Masque of Culture. 

being questioned, he saith : Truly there be stars! for he 
hath seen them. 

Con. A Riddle goeth about, and, when it hath found 
its own Answer, it saith : The Oak is a little Thing. 

{Enter Messenger.) 

Max. Well. 

.Mess. They have been having some gentlemen up for 
heresy, and have condemned them. 

Lady J. G. {alarmed). Oh, not to the flames, poor 
creatures ! 

Mess. N-no. I guess not. Not here, anyhow. 

Max. No, we don't burn now-a-days. We have pro- 
gressed. Go on. 

Mess. They maintained that they did not believe 
Joseph's coat had in it all the colors known at the present 
day. 

Max. Why not? 

Mess. Because the ancients didn't know of them all — 
crushed strawberry for one. 

Portia. That sounds reasonable. 

Lady J. G. (firmly). But we must not talk about 
things being reasonable in point of doctrine. (Half 
aside.) Else were perhaps our sainted Henry of Eng- 
land of blessed memory not the very apostolic Head of 
the Church. 

Max. So they condemned them ? 

Mess. Yes ; the judge decided that such opinions 
were subversive of truth. 

Hyp. This is the first thing that makes me feel really 



A Masque of Culture. 33 

at home. You see it was only fourteen hundred years 
ago /was condemned for my opinions. 

Cass, {spitefully). I told you so, anyhow. 

Mess. They have forbidden them to teach, saying that 
they were corruptors of youth. 

Soc. Corruptors of youth! It is the thing that they 
said of me more than two thousand years ago. I had 
doubted that it were the same world, but of a truth it is. 
(To Mess.). Said they anything about hemlock? 

Mess. Mercy on us! No! 

Max. Oh, no — nothing about hemlock, I am sure. 
You forget how we have progressed. (To Mess.). You 
may go. (Exit Mess.). (To Char.). Take Literature, 
then, Miss Charlotte. I suppose there is nothing you do 
not know about it. 

Char. Certainly not. Yet it is not so much that we 
Bostonians know so much — it would not be good taste, 
perhaps, to dwell upon that — but that other people know 
so little. 

Max. Portia of Venice — instead of going on with 
your private history, will you say a few words on the 
Drama? 

Portia (comes C). Certainly. In my day we were 
fond of masques and interludes and — 

Soc. And could the voice of woman be heard in 
the amphitheatre ? Did not the mask muffle her feeble 
accents ? 

Portia (annoyed). Of course, if you gentlemen are 
going to try and be funny all the time, there is no use 
talking ! 

3 



34 A Masque of Culture. 

Soc. {with dignity). It is not for him who has walked 
barefoot in the search for Truth to seek to bring laughter 
to the lips of a woman. 

Con. The Balloon mounteth on the appointed day, 
being lighter than Air. But they that stand by say It is 
a Pun. 

Soc. I ask yet a second time, even were it fitting that 
a woman be seen upon the proscenium, can the feebleness 
of her voice penetrate through the mask to the amphi- 
theatre ? 

Gert. {aside). Oh, he's got the catcher all mixed up 
with the umpire ! 

Char. We did the Antigone in Boston, you know. 
(To Socrates.) It was probably put on better than you 
used to see it. 

Soc. Hath the tragedy of the daughter of CEdipus be- 
come sport for maidens ? Hath Sophocles written them 
a libretto ? Even Aristophanes, if he did make fun of me, 
never thought of that! 

Gert. (aside). Aris — what? 

Char. There is no sport about it, I assure you. We 
don't do things that way in Boston. We believe in the 
serious Drama. (Portia seats herself in despair.) 

Soc. And so on the great days of the Boston Empire 
you put before the people those of the divine afflatus — 
Eschylus and Euripides. 

Char. Oh, no ; they are rather gone by. We used to 
pay them more attention. But we have Ibsen now, you 
know. And Margaret Fleming. 

Soc. Mehercule ! (He wraps his face in his mantle 



A Masque of Culture. 35 

after the manner of the Greek tragedy, and remains 
silent.) 

Max. {looking at Soc. considerately.) There seems 
to be something a little unfortunate in our reference to 
the Drama. We will for the present pass on to some- 
thing else. Gertrude of New York ! Will you speak of 
what Woman is doing for the Music of the present ? 

Cass, {wildly) (C.) Don't let her talk about music! 
She will lose her head ! We shall all lose our heads ! 
The funeral pyre is lighted. There will be dragons and 
horses and trilogies ! 
All. Oh, pshaw ! 
Cass. I knew you'd say that. 

Gert. {glibly.) {Comes C). There is no music of the 
present. The Music of the Future is all that really exists 
you know. 

Con. {faintly.) I used to sing and play a little myself 
when I was at home in Loo. 

Gert. Oh, undoubtedly. People sing and play now. 
But that isn't Music. There is no motif. Who ever 
heard of a Confucius motif, for example ? 

Con. When the Large purposeth to come together 
with the Small, it is a Mouth organ and there is no Silence. 
Gert. Women do a great deal for the Music of the 
Future ! They always wear full dress, and there have 
been many nights when there were half a dozen diamond 
necklaces in one box. Wagner was a great man. He 
knew how to combine . Everything has its part , you know , 
and the orchestra and the singing and the talking all 
blend and produce harmony — each having its own motif. 



36 A Masque of Culture. 

Con. And is it the singers who talk , or the talkers who 
sing? 

Gert. (complacently). Oh, no. We talk, you know, 
while they sing. Wagner was one of those all around 
geniuses, y ..." know. He allows for everything. 

Cox. Alas! Is the day of Courtesy over, too? A 
Locust thinketh himself a silent Bird, but he saith aloud, 
" I listen." (He relapses into extre7ne sadness.) 

Gert. (impatie?itly). Well, I don't know what you 
mean by a locust, but, of course, there is not any need of 
listening to Wagner's music. You hear it anyhow. In 
the future, it will be played upon the barrel organ about 
our streets, and then the millennium will have come. 
(Many of the Assembly seem depressed.) You see the 
Trilogy is — 

Char. (Comes C.) We have hardly time for the Trilogy. 
It is better to have selections, as we have at the Symphony — 

Gert. The Niebelungen Lied — 

Max. (firmly). We really cannot have the Niebelun- 
gen Lied now. You know we haven't had anything else 
for a long time. 

Char. Besides, though the Niebelungen Lied is all 
very well, I prefer the Elder Edda. 

Lady J. G. (timidly). Hasn't there been any literature 
since ? 

Char. None except literature of which those ancient 
sagas were the prototype. You see in the earlier ages — 

Gert. (exasperated). Who is telling about the Nie- 
belungen Lied, anyway ! (Conversatio7i breaks out.) 



A Masque of Culture. 37 

Max. Order ! Order ! 

Cass, (snappishly). I told you so ! 

Soc. {from the folds of his mantle). I am not feeling 
very well, Confucius, are you? 

Con. {his head in his hands). When there is much 
Speech and Ignorance nameth names, the philosopher 
saith, " It is a Pain." 

Max. As we are dealing to-day with the Past and the 
Present, let us leave the Music of the Future and hear 
what Charlotte — of Boston — has to say of Literature. 
Perhaps {kindly, to Charlotte) you will say all you have 
to say now, and then you will not interrupt afterwards. 

Char. (C.) It is difficult for a Bostonian to say all she 
has to say — she is at once too catholic and too cultured. 
Literature, in our sense of the word, the true Boston 
sense, begins with Browning. This phase may be said 
to end in Red Cotton Night Cap country. 

Gert. {sotto voce). I could have told you it would, 
beforehand. 

Char. There is little between the sagas we have just 
spoken of and Browning. It is the watchword of the 
truly cultured, that where he is most abstruse, there he is 
most beautiful. We leave his lighter work to those who 
care to understand what they read. We have higher 
motives in reading him ; there is a loftier pleasure in his 
unpunctuated moods than in those that please the care- 
less ear, as I could convince you by a few extracts — 

Gert. Oh, I say ! 

Cass, {wildly). I told you so ! 



38 A Masque of Culture. 

Char. — had I time. Then from Browning, who treats 
of the world as it should be, we come to Ibsen, who treats 
of the world as it is — through blue glasses. That is one 
reason we like him in Boston — he looks at life through 
blue glasses. 

{Enter Messenger.) 

Max. We will suspend business for some minutes. 
(To Mess.) What is it? 

Messenger (presenting despatch.) International news. 

Max. (opening envelope — carelessly to Con.). Con- 
fucius, please sign. (Business of Con. and Mess. Con. 
looks at bit of paper respectfully and makes 7nany 
bows. Mess, grows a little weary.) 

Max. (absent-mindedly ', reading note). Oh, sign, and 
put the hour of delivery as you are accustomed to — 
backwards. 

(Further business, of ter which Mess, signs, herself) 
Yes, important news. Important to England, too. 

Lady J. G. (Comes C.) (with enthusiam). Then it be 
great news ! My country hath ever brave men and true, 
albeit tossed hither and thither by winds of doctrine. 
Hath there been fighting, and is the sovereign of Eng- 
land as ever in the van ? 

Max. (looking at her curiously). No, nothing of that 
sort; in fact, sovereigns are rarely there now-a-days — in 
the van — (aside) except William of Germany; he lives 
there. (Aloud.) England has suffered defeat. 

Lady J. G. Defeat? Not upon English ground.' 

Max. No, not on English ground. 



A Masque of Culture. 39 

Lady J. G. Upon the high seas ? 

Max. Ye-es. That is — rather high seas. {Aside 
to Gert.) I don't know that it's quite civil to go on. 

Lady J. G. You keep something from me ! Can it be 
that the heir to the throne hath perished leading a forlorn 
hope ? 

Gert. {flippantly). Don't look so troubled, Lady Jane. 
Laying corner-stones and opening bazars isn't usually 
dangerous. 

Lady J. G. I fear me my lord the duke hath had 
words with — with — is it the king? — or hath Mary — 
or is it Elizabeth ? I am forgetting — but have they had 
words concerning the succession ? 

Max. Well, there have been words about it. There 
are some that say there won't be any. 

Lady J. G. {horrified). Any what? 

Max. Any succession. 

Lady J. G. {excitedly). But there will be war ! There 
will be flayings and burnings ! 

Char. (Z.) Oh, no, there won't. They know better — 
that is, Wales does — Wales knows a good deal ; we are 
more loyal to the Prince in Boston now than we were 
some years back. 

Max. But this news hasn't anything to do with the 
Prince at all. The Prince isn't in it. 

Gert. {impatiently). Well, why don't you tell us what 
it is. Which of them has married an American girl now ? 

Max. The Vigilant has defeated the Valkyrie. 

Gert. {with a glance at Charlotte). Why, of course 
it would. It was built in New York. 



40 A Masque of Culture. 

Char, {returning the glance). But Boston set the 
fashion. 

Hyp. The names please me, though I know not alto- 
gether their significance — the Vigilant and the Valkyrie. 

Max. They are the names of yachts — boats. 

Char. The Valkyrie is a Scandinavian — 

Lady J. G. {excitedly). The names of boats. And 
England beaten ! {proudly). There is a mistake. Eng- 
land never acknowledges defeat ! 

Max. No. She doesn't acknowledge it this time. 
But she is beaten all the same. And she's been before. 
{Exit Mess.) 

Gert. {aside). I'm so glad Lady Jane interrupted 
Charlotte when she began on the Scandinavian. We 
would have gone from the Valkyrie to the Vikings and on 
to the Vandals and the Visigoths — they all go together. 

Lady J. G. {sinking back in her chair). It might 
have been worse. I feared a rebellion, a conspiracy, or 
that the Prince had been injured in a boar hunt. 

Max. Oh, no, nothing of the kind. Besides, the last 
time he was injured, it was not in a boar hunt. 

Lady J. G. How then ? 

Max. In a game of baccarat. They play baccarat 
now. 

{Lady J. G. buries iter head in iter hands.) 

Gert. And that's not very exciting from an American 
standpoint, anyway. Baccarat isn't in it with poker — 
only gambling is cheaper under a constitutional monarch 
than it is here — at least for the monarch. 



A Masque of Culture. 41 

Lady J. G. {faintly). What would Edward VI. say ? 

Portia {rising quickly). Before continuing the debate 
I would like to suggest that as, if I understand it aright, 
neither Browning nor Ibsen is a woman — 

Gert. Neither is Kipling — you may as well put in 
Kipling — we all know she is coming to him next — 

Portia. Nor Kipling — that Charlotte is wandering 
from the subject — Volume VII, Section 16, — which is, 
or ought to be, Woman in Literature. 

Char, {with dignity). Boston women never wander 
from the subject. Whatever they are talking of imme- 
diately becomes the subject. 

Soc. {still muffled in his mafitle). That was just the 
way it was with Xantippe. I don't think I care about 
staying much longer, Confucius. 

Char. But when you ask me what Woman has done 
for Literature, I answer — She has enshrined it ! She has 
announced its sovereignty ! She has proclaimed it King! 
She has organized Browning clubs and instituted an Ibsen 
cult! She has exploited Sophocles ! She has burned in- 
cense and chanted praises ! She has discovered; she has 
pointed out ! In some cases she has even read ! ! Why 
should I say more ? 

All. Why, indeed ? 

Con. {brightening up). When a Skein is snarled, we 
are glad when one proclaimeth: " It is an End." 

Char, {somewhat disconcerted). I had, however, 
thought of saying more — 



42 A Masque of Culture. 

Max. It is nearly time for a recess already, and as I 
fear our guests may not be equal to staying through, I 
want myself to say a few words of Woman in Politics. 
I shall divide these few words as follows : Woman at the 
Ballot-box — 

Soc. (in muffled tones). Mehercule ! 

Max. Woman as a Wirepuller. Woman on the Ros- 
trum; Woman on the School Committee ; Woman in the 
Presidential Chair ; and finally, Woman in the Militia. 

{Soc. and Con. gradually raise their heads during 
this enumeration > and look at each other with a glance 
of mutual ttnderstanding.) 

Soc. (solemnly). Even Xantippe wasn't all those ! 

Con. When a Thing seemeth too large to swallow, be- 
ware, lest there be a Hook in it. Let us go. 

Gert. (aside, irreverently). Confucius is all balled 
up ! 

Soc. (to Max.) If thou speakest Truth it is a sacrilege, 
and if thou speakest not Truth I will have none of it. 
(To Con.) Let us go. 

Con. When one would not be present one sayeth 
aloud : It is a Headache. Let us go. 

Max. (coldly). Oh, go, by all means. I am not sur- 
prised that you find the 19th century spirit too strong for 
you. 

(Soc. and Con. rise and make preparations for de- 
parture.) 

Cass. (C.) (wildly). Oh, don't let them go ! Bid them 
stay ! When they go, will come hissing, destruction, and 



A Masque of Culture. 43 

confusion dire! Without them we be but women! The fire- 
brand of dissension will be flung in our midst ! The sibyl- 
line books have said to me, " Don't let all the men go ! " 

All. Oh, pshaw ! 

Cass. I knew you'd say that. 

{During Cassandra's speech Con. and Soc. have been 
moving slowly and feebly towards the door leaning on 
one a?iother. As they go, Zen. says, politely) — 

Zen. Please give my regards to Minerva. 

Soc. {peevishly). I don't know what we shall give 
Minerva! 

Portia {who has evidently been thinking over Maxi- 
?nilia's speech.) Speaking of Woman in Politics: it is all 
very well to have her all those other things, but I do not 
approve of Woman at the Ballot-Box. It seems to me — 

Zen. The Ballot-Box is all well enough, but what in 
the world would a woman do on a School Committee! 
Such indoor occupations — 

Char. I thoroughly approve of Woman on the School 
Committee, but I do not think she belongs in the Militia 
— in spite of the Daughters of the Revolution. In 
Boston — 

Hyp. The militia really seems to me to donand the 
softening influence of woman. It is Woman as a Wire- 
puller to which I take exception. The brutal soldiery — 

Gert. I think as a wire-puller she'd do very well, but 
in the Presidential chair she would be simply ridiculous. 
It isn't her style ; it is — 

Lady J. G. I don't see what she wants in Politics 



44 A Mas q tie of Culture. 

anyway! It is most disastrous sometimes, and as for the 
rostrum, it sounds like — 

{At this point the t on g lies all break loose, ana 7 
/here is the same sound of strenuous \ unheeded debate, 
to which the curtain rose. Everybody talks and no- 
body listens. Max. occasionally raps for order, and 
nobody comes to order. 

The curtain slowly desce?ids, while Con. and Soc. 
pause at the door, gazing back into the confusion of 
the room, each of them a prey to gloom and despair, 
fust before the curtain reaches the floor, the voice of 
Cassandra rises above the tumult.) 

Cass. I TOLD YOU SO ! 

Tableau. 

Soc. Con. 
(Platform.) (Chairs.) 

Max. Cass. Lady J.G. 

Gert. Hyp. Portia. Zen. 

Char. 



EPILOGUE. 



Scene. Same as Prologue. 

{Minerva discovered seated just inside the arbor y 
leaning on her spear.) 

Min. It seems as if they never would come. Men al 
ways do like to be just a little behindhand. They call it 
being just in time. Father acts the same way about the 
Olympian train. I'm there ten minutes ahead, and wait- 
ing, and all in a flutter for fear he'll be late, and then he 
gets to the platform and just throws his bag on. It's 
about the only thing that makes me nervous. I think it 
is better to be a little too early now and then. {Rises 
and poses in the doorzvay.) I wonder what sort of time 
they have had! I'm afraid they were a sort of drag on 
the meeting ; the women may have been a little timid 
before them — being such distinguished men — and then 
coming as they did from me. (Sits) (complacently.) I 
fancy they haven't progressed much since — well — since 
me. I'd pass for having a good deal of executive ability 
in any generation, though, of course, things have 
changed a good deal, and if the opinion of a goddess is 
worth anything, and it seems to me it ought to be, 
though, as I said before, it isn't what it was once — not 



4t> A Masque of Culture. 

always for the better. {Rises again, and looks out of 
the door, shading her eyes with her hand — a pause.) 
There they are now! But mercy on us, what makes 
them walk so slowly ? — and they lean on each other so ! 
I didn't know Socrates ever leaned on anybody, — or, for 
that matter, Confucius either. They must have had a 
tiresome journey up. {Calls aloud.) Well? Glad to get 
back ? Is this hot enough for you ? ( Waves her hand- 
kerchief.) They don't respond very enthusiastically, I 
must say. They act the way Paris did when I spoke to 
him beforehand about that apple — a little stand-offish. 
{Enter Soc. and Con. leaning on one another and look- 
ing abject and weary.) Well, what sort of time did you 
have? {They look at her and shake their heads sadly.) 
What have you been doing, anyway? 

Soc. {tottering to a chair R.). Hearing women talk. 

Con. {tottering to a chair L.). When a Thing acheth 
and cryeth for rest, it is an Ear Drum. {They seat tJiem- 
selves, slowly.) 

Mix. {stands C, looking from one to another). Well, 
I must say! I should not think you would be alarmed by 
the tongues of women, Socrates. 

Soc. Xantippe didn't have but one. {A pause.) 

Mix. {impatiently). When do you think you'll feel well 
enough to give me your report? I'm not accustomed to 
be kept waiting. {Changes her shield and spear from 
one hand to the other, so that they make a threatcni7ig 
clatter.) 

Soc. {immoved). Nothing that you can do will scare 
us now. 



A Masque of Culture. 47 

(Min. stands aghast, too amazed to be angry.) 

Con. {reviving into some shadow of his former cere- 
monious courtesy). When one hath listened to the Buz- 
zing of many Bees, even the Queen Bee seemeth a small 
Thing. 

Soc. (to Con.). What's the use of talking like that ! 
She'll have to know sometime. 

Min. (alarmed). What will I have to know? 

Soc. Oh, how many of them there are, and how they 
all know it all, and — 

Con. There be many Women that walk the Earth with- 
out leaning upon a staff, and each one saith : Behold, / 
am Minerva. 

Min. (drops her shield and spear). For Olympus' 
sake ! (A pause.) And the Copyright Bill passed, too ! 

Soc. (to Con.). Will you ever forget that Boston girl? 

Con. (shaking his head). When one hath seen a 
woman who saith I am a Goddess, one forgetteth it not. 

Min. (sits C). You'll drive me crazy between you ; 
Socrates, you used to be able to tell a straight story. 
You go on, or by the throne of Jupiter, Minerva means 
to know the reason why ! 

Soc. . Let us proceed according to the Socratic method. 
You can ask questions. 

Min. (sits.) (sarcastically). I suppose, at least, you 
went to the Convention. 

Soc. and Con. We did. (They sigh.) 

Min. What did they wear ? 

(Soc. and Con. gzve each other a glance of intelli- 



48 A Masque of Culture. 

gence, and, unseen of Minerva, draw from the folds 
of their garments copies of " The Ladies" Home Jour- 
nal") 

Soc. {hastily, to gain time). They wore togas. 

Con. {referring to paper). And mantles. 

Soc. {referring to paper). And capes. 

Con. And cut-away jackets. 

Soc. And tall collars. 

Con. And short skirts. 

Soc. And vests. 

Con. And mackintoshes. 

Soc. And large sleeves. 

Con. And Eton jackets. 

Soc. And tabliers en train. 

Con. And corsages of chiffon. 

Soc. And gants de Suede. 

Mix. {putting her hands over her ears). That's 
enough ! That's enough ! They must have looked like 
— well, like trophies. Didn't they any of them wear 
helmets ? 

Soc. {secretly referring to "Journal"). No, sailor 
hats. 

Con. {same business). And toques. 

Soc. And capotes. 

Min, And didn't any of them carry shields? 

Con. {same business). No, fans. 

Soc. And parasols. 

Con. And bonbonnieres. 

Min. I must say they haven't improved much in the 



A Masque of Culture. 49 

last few thousand years. I supposed they'd all have 
helmets and shields by this time. What did they talk 
about. 

{The subject of dress being done with, Soc. and Con. 
are visibly relieved, and conceal the "Journal " again 
in their robes.) 

Soc. {wearily). Their speech was like the sands 
washed by the ocean of Truth. It dasheth upon them 
and leaveth no mark. 

Con. {wearily, but still politely). They named Names 
and they became other Things. As one saith, It is a 
Piano and behold it is a Folding Bed ! 

Min. {aside, sighing). There they go again. {Aloud.) 
What did they say ? Whom did they name ? What kind 
of a thing was it anyway ? 

Soc. {sadly). They spoke of a stage where Woman 
assumes the Mask and Cothurnus. 

Min. Did they, really? 

Con. {sadly). They spoke of Music and they talked 
aloud that they might not catch the Sound thereof. 

Mix. I'd like to have Apollo hear that ! 

Soc. The Creon of Sophocles hath become a woman. 

Con. And she goeth about the streets with a Message 
and a Book of Writings of the Law ; and She saith unto 
Men, " Sign " ; and She compelleth them. 

Min. I like that. I always thought she ought to have 
more to do with the laws. 

Soc. {bitterly). Perhaps you'd like to have her casting 
ballots. 



50 A Masque of Culture. 

Min. Why not? What's the harm ? 

Con. One seeth a Small, Round Thing and saith, "It 
is no harm." But when one toucheth it, it is a Bee Hive. 

Min. {sarcastically). I suppose that is what they said 
about it. Who was there, Socrates? 

Soc. Maximilia R. Stantmore. 

Min. {thoughtfully.) Maximilia? Is she a Roman 
Empress ? 

Soc. No, she isn't. Nothing of the sort. 

Con. {speaks with frequent pauses). And Charlotte 
was there. Of Boston. And the Wise of that City say, 
She knoweth it all. And if there be that she knoweth 
not, then it is not worth the Knowing. 

Min. I have heard that Boston is called the modern 
Athens. Have they an Acropolis. 

Con. Yes. It goeth by the name of Bunker Hill. 

Min. {thoughtfully). The name is singular, but doubt- 
less it hath its own meanings. And in this new Athens, 
do they reverence Minerva ? 

Soc. {coldly). Not particularly. 

Min. {angrily). Then Jupiter shall deal with the un- 
grateful who deny their tutelary goddess ! 

Soc. Second hand. 

Min. Well, second hand tutelary goddess then. 

Soc. {slowly). They don't care a row of bent pins for 
Jupiter. 

Con. The continent is wide and it stretcheth from Sea 
to Sea. But when a thing is of no Worth, they liken it 
to a Continental. 



A Masque of Culture. 51 

Min. {entirely overcome). Well, I declare! {A pause.) 
{Con. and Soc. are stolidly unhappy.) What do they 
care about, anyway ? 

Soc. Talking. 

Con. And they spoke of Buddha! As one speaketh 
of a New Thing, spake they of Buddha! 

Min. They seem to* have gone back a good way. 

Con. Yesterday is as To-morrow, and To-morrow is as 
to-day a fortnight, and there is no Time save Nirvana, 
and when Buddha planteth a Tree — 

Min. {peevishly). Oh, my! Don't you begin. That 
sort of thing just goes on forever once you get started! 

Soc. And they search after Truth with much clatter, 
and when they have found her they go on to something 
else. 

Con. And if two of them think the same Thoughts or 
say the same Words, it is an Error ; and they cry aloud. 

Min. Mercy on us! It must be a worse racket than 
when Ganymede smashes all the tumblers! 

Soc. And one saith this is Truth ; and another saith 
It is not ; and neither the one nor the other is right. 

Con. And they wear Hats that be like men's and they 
are not warlike. And they say W^e would fight, and when 
they hear a Cannon Firecracker, they say It is a Fear- 
some Thing. 

Soc. And they have acted Antigone! 

Con. And they have fought lions ! 

Soc. And they have condemned man. 

Con. And they have invented Literature! 



52 A Masque of Culture. 

Min. {sits). And do they not sew on buttons ? Or knit 
stockings ? Or bake puddings ? Or wheel the perambu- 
lator ? 

Soc. {impatiently). No, No, No! 

Con. When one seeth strange things, It is a Reform. 
Water aboundeth in Nature, but Man hath invented a 
Spigot. 

Min. {becoming depressed). Then it is all true — all 
those reports I heard ? Things are very much changed. 

Soc. Changed is no word for it. 

Min. {with some hesitation). I don't suppose there is 
anything I could teach them how to do. 

Soc. {with convictiojt). Nothing. 

Min. {laying aside her spear and shield and sinking 
into an attitude of dejection). {Tableau.) I don't 
know what there is left for me, I'm sure. I've always 
thought I was leading the strong-minded women just as 
I used to do — in Greece and Rome — only I was too busy 
to go and see about it. I meant to, sometime. 

Soc. You put it off too long. 

Min. What would you advise me to do now? Is 
there anything you can think of, having just been there, 
that they don't do, that I could take up, so as to show 
that the older civilization was superior, after all ? 

Soc. I don't think of anything. Truth is no longer 
hidden. She hath become the Fashion. 

Con. When one goeth too hastily to the Van, one 
sendeth him back to the Rear that he may be busy. And 
Men say He picketh up Dropped Stitches. 



A Masque of Culture. 53 

Min. {suddenly to Con.) You give me an idea. Gen- 
erally I must say, I don't get many ideas from what you 
say. It sounds like — well, like Culture, of course, but it 
is not practical. This time you are practical. {Rises.) I 
can learn to sew. 

Soc. {astonished). And go out by the day? Oh, no ! 

Mix. And to knit. 

Cox. {pleasantly). When a Thing hath Three Sides 
and one hasteneth from one to the other, it is a Stocking. 

Min. And to cook. {The philosophers look doubtful 
and shake their heads.) Why, wouldn't you? 

Soc. I would wait a while. Truth lieth not always 
open to a beginner. 

Con. And the Wise eat thereof and are sad. 

Mix. I could begin with you, Socrates {looks at him 
critically). I see you've fastened your robe with a shoe 
string where the button's off. 

Soc. {sadly). Yes, Xantippe was never any hand to 
sew on buttons. 

Cox. When a Thing hath Four Holes and it is difficult 
to find one, it is usually a Button. 

Mix. {sits, goes through knitting motions clumsily 
with her spear). I could get the Fates to lend me some 
yarn and set it up for me. ( The Philosophers watch her 
in silence for a few moments^ a beam of satisfaction 
growing itpon their faces.) 

Soc. You look very nice doing that. Truth and 
Domesticity are the Cult wherein Woman findeth herself. 

Cox. When one layeth aside the Spear for the Needle, 
One saith It is a Lady. 



54 A Masque of Culture. 

Min. {with a change of manner, sharply). I don't 
know that I have laid it aside. I always intend to be 
able to hold my own. {Picks up her shield.) I hate to 
hear men talk that way. 

Con. {mildly). When a Feeble Foot findeth the Treadle 
we say It is in its Place. 

Soc. Disturbance and Knowledge are for Man, and 
the Sphere of Women floats in the aether of Retirement. 

Min. {rising). That is enough ! If you are going back 
to that sort of thing, it settles it ! You men will all be too 
glad to talk that way ! 

{The philosophers perceive their mistake.) 

Soc. {meekly). I suppose we are glad to have the 
chance to talk any way. 

Min. {with sudden inspiration). I have another plan. 
It is a great one ! {She assumes her arms.) It is beyond 
what I dreamed of. I shall still lead the van ! {She 
steps up on a sort of pedestal at one side of the arbor. 
They watch her breathlessly.) I will show Woman of 
the Nineteenth Century that Minerva is still Learning 
that Athene is still Wisdom ! That she lives not in the 
effete, nor crumbles amid the ruins of the old world. The 
laughter of Olympus sounds in my ears, but I heed it not. 
I shall go — 

Soc. and Con. (eagerly). You shall go — 

Min. (with an heroic gesture). To Boston. 

(Tableau. Minerva with her shield and raised 
spear. Confucius and Socrates on either side in atti- 
tudes of awed despair.) 

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